Southern California -- this just in

Readers weigh in on election day: 'I voted because ...'

For Teresita Pilina, casting her first ever ballot was a meticulous process.

She slowly read through every name and proposition, taking about 15 minutes to finalize her ballot.

When she was finished, she triumphantly declared to the poll workers in an Echo Park garage: "It was my first time! After 25 years as a citizen, this was my first time voting."

Pilina said there was no specific issue that drew her to the polls on Tuesday. From the economy to gas prices to schools to graffiti -- she said she felt like she could no longer stay on the sidelines of the political process.

"I just knew it was time for me to vote," she said, glancing down at the "I voted" sticker placed on her shirt just moments before. "I'm sorry I never did this before."

The Times asked readers to tell us why they voted. Here's a sampling of their answers: